Breeding Tanks

[australia]

i am planning on breading more cichlids, atm i have two 4 foot tanks at 160litres each and a 3 foot tank at 110litres, im thinking of setting up 4 two foot tanks for the fry when the mothers spits them, i have a colony of 6 mbunas and will be getting more shortly, will 2 foot tanks be good for the fry? and any other suggestions on tanks for fry? etc could i have a 4 foot tank and divide it into a 2 halfs leaving me with two 2 footers? any ideas would be great, thanks

 

[BigC]

Hi,
I've been keeping fish for many a year now, and my main interest is in breeding.
I build batches of tanks that I call overflows for fry rearing etc. The picture below is a side view of the plans.
The pic below is a side view of a 6'x2'x2' tank stood up on end (self made) with glass inserts to form a kind of drawer system which overflow into each other (except for the bottom sump) Water is pumped back up to the top tank by means of an Eheim 2217 power filter. I have 4 fry rearing tanks, by size seperation in each batch. I maintain the tanks from the front rather than from above. Each tank uses one 300w heater/stat
I know the picture of the plans isn't very clear, but if you need more info then just ask and I'll attempt to explain.
It may well help in future breeding setup for yourself and others as you are building vertically rather than using space horizontally.

Regards
BigC

 

[australia]

Hi,
I've been keeping fish for many a year now, and my main interest is in breeding.
I build batches of tanks that I call overflows for fry rearing etc. The picture below is a side view of the plans.
The pic below is a side view of a 6'x2'x2' tank stood up on end (self made) with glass inserts to form a kind of drawer system which overflow into each other (except for the bottom sump) Water is pumped back up to the top tank by means of an Eheim 2217 power filter. I have 4 fry rearing tanks, by size seperation in each batch. I maintain the tanks from the front rather than from above. Each tank uses one 300w heater/stat
I know the picture of the plans isn't very clear, but if you need more info then just ask and I'll attempt to explain.
It may well help in future breeding setup for yourself and others as you are building vertically rather than using space horizontally.

Regards
BigC

thanks mate ill keep that idea in mind, very good setup,

the setup i have in mind is to run sponge filters, and to have my tanks about 2 foot of the ground and along my walls as i am going put tanks on top of each other, i am just unsure on what size tanks i should get for raising my fry in?

 

[BigC]

My advice would then be to buy the largest tank you can afford or have the space for, and divide it. Then when they grow you can open the whole aquarium up to its full volume for growing out. Another good method of growing out fry is (if you have a fish room or similar) is to construct a box pond, from plywood, insulate it and line it with a light coloured pvc pondliner.
BigC

 

[australia]

My advice would then be to buy the largest tank you can afford or have the space for, and divide it. Then when they grow you can open the whole aquarium up to its full volume for growing out. Another good method of growing out fry is (if you have a fish room or similar) is to construct a box pond, from plywood, insulate it and line it with a light coloured pvc pondliner.
BigC

okay BigC ill take your advice that i seem to like and buy the largest tank i can and divide it, what is the best method to divide a tank?

 

[BigC]

I like to use perspex.
Buy some "U" channel from your local DIY store and cut to depth of tank, now cut your perspex to suit the tank width and depth and fit the channeling to either end. Drill small holes in the perspex to allow for water and heat dispersal Rather than siliconing the channeling to the aquarium glass, if you have cut your perspex correctly then you can wedge the divider in place and move it according to the size of tank/s you wish to create.
Regards
BigC

 

[australia]

I like to use perspex.
Buy some "U" channel from your local DIY store and cut to depth of tank, now cut your perspex to suit the tank width and depth and fit the channeling to either end. Drill small holes in the perspex to allow for water and heat dispersal Rather than siliconing the channeling to the aquarium glass, if you have cut your perspex correctly then you can wedge the divider in place and move it according to the size of tank/s you wish to create.
Regards
BigC

good idea, can u please tell me what "U" channel is?

 

[BigC]

http/www.astroflame.com/product-images/astrouchannel.jpg#
Plastic "U" channel. your DIY store should sell it by the mtr.